“The facts are simply these, Doctor,” and the mother looked me steadily in the face, which stood out clear, as the lamp shone full on every feature.  “From the moment of our arrival, Mrs. Allen has seemed like one possessed of an evil Spirit.  How she conducted herself before, is known to me only as reported by the servants.  From the little they have communicated, I infer that for some time past she has not been ii her right mind.  How is it?  You must know as to her sanity or insanity.”

“She has not, in my opinion, been a truly sane woman for years,” was my answer.

“As I just said,” she continued, “she has seemed like one possessed of an evil spirit.  In no way could we soften or conciliate her.  Her conduct resembled more nearly that of some fierce wild beast whose den was invaded, than that of a human being.  She would hold no friendly intercourse with us, and if we met at any time, or in any part of the house, she would fix her keen black eyes upon us, with an expression that sent a shudder to the heart.  My daughter scarcely dared venture from her room.  She so dreaded to meet her.  Twice, as she flew past me, in her restless wanderings over the house, muttering to herself, I heard her say, as she struck her clenched hand in the air, ‘I can do it again, and I will!’”

A cold chill crept over me, for I remembered the death of Captain Allen; and this was like a confirmation of what I had feared as to foul play.

“There is no trusting one wholly or even partially insane.  So we were always on our guard.  Not once, but many times during the few nights we have spent here, have we heard the door of our chamber tried after midnight.  It was plain to us that it was not safe to live in this way, and so we had come to the reluctant conclusion that personal restraint must be secured.  The question as to how this could best be done we had not yet decided, when death unraveled the difficulty.”

The speaker ceased at this part of her narrative, and lifting from the table a small bell, rung it.  A maid entered.  I had never seen her before.

“Tell Jackson that I want him.”

The girl curtsied respectfully, and withdrew.

Nothing more was said, until a man, whom I recognized at a glance to be a regularly trained English servant, presented himself.

“Jackson,” said the lady, “I wish you to relate exactly, what occurred just previously to, and at the time of Mrs. Allen’s death.”

The man looked bewildered for a moment or two; but soon recovering himself, answered without hesitation.

“Hit ‘appened just in this way, ma’am.  I was a comin’ hup stairs, when I met the hold lady a tearin’ down like a mad cat.  She looked kind o’ awful.  I never saw anybody out of an ’ospital look that way in all my life before.  She ’eld an hiron poker in ’er ’and.  As my young lady—­” and he looked towards Blanche—­” was in the ’all, I didn’t think it safe for